New P-51D ARF from VQ Models: Lady Alice!

Published on 10 April 2015

We do not normally promote or advertise specific products here on the PVMAC website, but today I thought we shoud make an exception given this particular bit of exciting news. VQ RC Models has released a new P-51D Mustang that many at the PVMAC are all to familiar with “Lady Alice”. It is a 46 sized ARF with a 62" wingspand and designed for glow or electric setups with the built in magnetic battery hatch.

I reached out to Mike Greenshields who is the Vice President of Product Development and Marketing at Hobby People, which is the US Importer for VQ Arfs, to find out more about this VQ Arf. Mike says that he had the idea that lady alice would make a great model, and since he knew Dr. Ken Wagner the owner of Lady Alice, He asked him if it would be ok to poduce a model of his P-51D. When Ken agreed to the idea, Vinh Quang who is the owner of VQ Models was prompted to build the aircraft. Mike reports that it is an updated version of VQ’s older P-51 line, which now includes a magnetic hatch for an electric friendly setup, now has full flaps, and a tail wheel that is “in the right spot”. He tells me they will also be stocking retracts and struts for it too which will be sold separately. Finally, Mike says that though Ken Wagner has not seen the aircraft yet, they are in the process of building him one, and plan to take pictures with Ken, his new model, and his full size P-51D.

Lady Alice began its life as a P-51D built and intended for combat. Built in 1945 towards of the end of the war, this Mustang was never sent into combat. It stayed in the USAF until about 1950 and served as a fighter trainer. It was then sold to the Royal Canadian Air Force who flew it until 1956 at which point it was declare surplus. In 1963, Bill Lacy out of Honolulu acquired the aircraft and flew it frequently until around 1972, when someone accidentally taxied into it and damaged it. It was put in a container for year until it was transferred to Art Teeters, in Salinas California. Today Art Teeters is a world-renowned P-51 restorer, but back then this was his first P-51, and he totally restored the aircraft over the course of about 2 years. It is reported that Bill flew it infrequently until it was acquired by Bob Jepson in 1999 and repainted as Lady Alice in 2000. In 2006, it was sold again to a local R/C modeler, Member and supporter of the PVMAC, Dr. Ken “WAGS” Wagner, who now owns and operates Lady Alice out of Chino CA. Regularly flown, this P-51D flies at numerous events and is exhibited all over Southern California and even makes its way to Oshkosh most years.